eHealth content-sharing and emotional support among Italian parents of children with Down Syndrome: A qualitative report

ABSTRACT Parents of children with special healthcare needs search the Internet to learn about and share health-related information. Indeed, online communities (OCs) often increase knowledge and skills, decreasing feelings of isolation and distress. The current study explored the content and functioning of an Italian OC comprising parents of children with Down Syndrome. Following a netnographic method, data were analysed through the Latent Thematic Analysis. Five main themes emerged: the e-group, the child, prescriptive knowhow, being a parent, and personal experience across time. The findings illustrated the complex relationship between parents and children with Down Syndrome within the OC, exploring psychological themes recurring in parents of children with Down Syndrome. Within the e-group, special children and parental challenges can be described, sharing concerns, conflicting emotions, and experience-based information, countering Down Syndrome difficulties and social isolation. Clinicians and healthcare professionals should consider the OCs-related advantages to enhance the healthcare of parents and children with Down Syndrome.